Module 5: Approaching Flares
Approaching Flares
At this stage in the program, you may have experienced a flare or even several. Flares are a normal and expected part of the healing journey. The good news is that this kit will guide you in responding to flares from a place of safety rather than reinforcing the brain’s automatic fear response.
How we respond to pain plays a crucial role in teaching our nervous system whether or not to sound the alarm. When we react with the five F’s (fear, frustration, focusing, fixating, and freaking out) we unintentionally strengthen the pain fear cycle. This module offers tools to help your brain understand that the pain itself is not dangerous.
You’ll also learn strategies to reduce the emotional toll that pain can take on your daily life, especially when you're trying to work or accomplish tasks. This begins with shifting your relationship to pain. Pain is not the enemy; it’s a protective signal. Imagine how dangerous life would be if we couldn’t feel pain at all, we wouldn’t know when something was truly wrong.
Our goal is to train the brain to seek out safety even when pain signals are elevated. By learning how to respond rather than react, you can reduce fear, lessen the intensity of flares over time, and build a sense of empowerment over your life.